Names of the Romani people
The word Romani carries a history that stretches back to ancient India. Scholars trace the root of terms like Dom and Lom to Sanskrit phrases meaning a man of low caste who lives by singing and music. This linguistic connection points toward Dravidian or Munda origins, though the exact source remains uncertain. The stem of these words links directly to drumming. One theory suggests a loan from Kannada, where damara means a pair of kettle-drums. Another possibility involves Telugu, using tamatama for a drum or tomtom. These sounds echo through centuries of migration, surviving in modern dialects as phonemes distinct from standard R. In Romania, speakers often double the letter to distinguish their identity from the Romanian endonym români. This distinction represents a phoneme written as ř or rh in some Romani dialects.
English law has long grappled with the term gipsy. The Oxford English Dictionary records its first usage in 1514, appearing in works by Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare. During the 16th and 17th centuries, spellings varied wildly between Egipcian and gypcian. The initial capital E eventually disappeared, leaving the lowercase g that persists today. A British House of Commons Committee published a report in 2019 titled Tackling inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. That inquiry found that while some find the term offensive, many stakeholders remain proud to associate themselves with it. Under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, gipsies were defined as persons of nomadic habit regardless of race. The Race Relations Act 1976 recognized Romani gipsies as an ethnic group following the Commission for Racial Equality v Dutton case in 1989. Some modern dictionaries now recommend avoiding the word entirely or attaching warning labels to it.
Continental Europe often uses names derived from Byzantine Greek athínganos. This ancient term combines a- meaning not with thingánō meaning touch. The result translates literally to untouchable. An 11th-century text preserved on Mt Athos describes the Adsincani as a Samaritan people descended from Simon the Magician. Emperor Constantine Monomachos employed these groups to exterminate wild animals destroying game in the imperial park of Philopation. Another intriguing link appears in a Sogdian Manichaean hymnal from Turfan dated around the year 1000. This document contains the adjective tājīgāne, which may have meant Arab or Moslem in a general sense at that time. Scholars debate whether this represents a Parthian origin or a Persian designation bestowed by the Muslim Turks who later ruled the region. These medieval terms evolved into modern European exonyms like Tsinganoi and Bohémiens.
Distinct Romani communities maintain unique self-designations across the globe. In German-speaking Europe, the group calls itself Sinti. France recognizes the Manush identity among its Roma population. Spain, Wales, and Finland use Calé, Kale, and Kaale respectively, all derived from kalo meaning black in the Romani language. Scandinavian Romani often identify as Romer or Tater, while Romanisael serves Scandoromani speakers. The Romani of England are commonly known as Romanichal within Angloromani dialects. Some people of Romani heritage identify instead as Turks, Bulgarians, or Romanians depending on their location. A number of these groups hide their identity due to fear of persecution. Others feel compelled to reject the label entirely despite their heritage. Following the first World Romani Congress in London, usage of Rom and Roma has become increasingly widespread in Central and Eastern Europe.
International organizations have adopted specific terminology for political advocacy. The United Nations and the US Library of Congress utilize Romani as an alternative noun for the entire ethnic group. The Council of Europe and other bodies prefer the term Roma to refer to Romani people worldwide. These organizations recommend restricting Romani strictly to descriptions of language and culture. The phrase Romani language and Romani culture distinguishes linguistic practice from ethnic identity. In some regions, Roma remains the primary term used in political contexts. This shift reflects a desire for self-determination and accurate representation. The adoption of these terms marks a departure from historical exonyms like Gypsy or Bohemian. Modern dictionaries now reflect this evolving landscape with varying recommendations on usage.
Common questions
What is the origin of the word Romani?
Scholars trace the root of terms like Dom and Lom to Sanskrit phrases meaning a man of low caste who lives by singing and music. This linguistic connection points toward Dravidian or Munda origins, though the exact source remains uncertain.
When was the term gipsy first recorded in English law?
The Oxford English Dictionary records its first usage in 1514, appearing in works by Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare. During the 16th and 17th centuries, spellings varied wildly between Egipcian and gypcian before the initial capital E disappeared.
How did Byzantine Greek influence names for Romani people in continental Europe?
Continental Europe often uses names derived from Byzantine Greek athínganos which translates literally to untouchable. An 11th-century text preserved on Mt Athos describes the Adsincani as a Samaritan people descended from Simon the Magician.
Which self-designations do distinct Romani communities use across the globe?
In German-speaking Europe, the group calls itself Sinti while France recognizes the Manush identity among its Roma population. Spain, Wales, and Finland use Calé, Kale, and Kaale respectively, all derived from kalo meaning black in the Romani language.
What terminology do international organizations adopt for political advocacy regarding Romani people?
The United Nations and the US Library of Congress utilize Romani as an alternative noun for the entire ethnic group. The Council of Europe and other bodies prefer the term Roma to refer to Romani people worldwide.